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Next step for Wood: Consistency across 162 games

James Wood has shown the baseball world how dominant he can be. He catapulted to the top of the leaderboards early this season, earned his second All-Star selection and finished the year with 30 home runs, 30 doubles and 21…

Published: Wednesday, 21 October 2026 at 10:53 AM
Next step for Wood: Consistency across 162 games
Key Things to Know
  • James Wood is focusing on maintaining consistent performance across all 162 games next season.
  • Wood hit 30 home runs and stole 21 bases despite missing 27 games with an oblique injury.
  • His performance dropped after the All-Star break, recording only two home runs between July 17 and August 3.
The Story in 60 Seconds

Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood is prioritizing full-season consistency and defensive improvement after completing his second full Major League campaign. Despite missing nearly a month due to a left oblique strain, Wood earned an All-Star selection and finished the year with 30 home runs, 30 doubles, and 21 stolen bases.

Wood experienced a dip in production after hitting 28 homers before the All-Star break, followed by a slower second half and a month-long IL stint. Manager Blake Butera and Wood both noted that maintaining stamina, avoiding wasted at-bats, and improving his defense in the outfield will be key offseason goals.

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